Tag Archives: Russian tourist visa

As of September 9 new visa issuance rules will be in effect for citizens of both countries applying for tourist, business and private visas.

Our analysis of the bi-lateral agreement put into force recently and comments on it shows that US passport holders going to Russia will benefit from the following:

Business visa applicants:
No need to have official letter of invitation.
All visas are multiple-entry for up to 6 month stay for each entry and valid for 3 years. Before the maximum length of Russian business visa validity was 1 year.

Tourist visa applicants:
No need to have official visa support (but proof of hotel and tour bookings are required).
All visas are multiple-entry for up to 6 month stay for each entry and valid for 3 years. Before the maximum length of Russian tourist visa validity was 30 calendar days.

Private visa applicants:
All visas are multiple-entry for up to 6 month stay for each entry and valid for 3 years. Before the maximum length of Russian tourist visa validity was 90 calendar days.

Another advantage is that US citizens may apply for Russian visas in other countries, not only from inside United States as the case now. So, for example, US passport holder on a short visit to Canada may apply at the nearest Russian consulate or through Russian visa center there.

At the same time Russian consulates reserved their right to request any applicant to present additional documents and information to confirm the purpose of the trip, availability of funds, etc. As this part of the requirements is not detailed, the practical implementation of it by consular bureaucrats may in some instances destroy most of the advantages. Russian officials are looking at complete visa-free regime by 2020.

This is a manual on how to fill-out Russian visa application form correctly to ensure the acceptance by strict and often unfriendly visa officers at Russian consulates. Please note, that this type of the application form can be used only by the applicants with the passports of Canada, United States, United Kingdom and Georgia. The manual is structured to make it easy and clear what to write in the box for each question, starting from question one till the last question #41. If you do not have the application form itself you may find it at Russian Visa Center site.

#1. Nationality
Indicate your citizenship. If you have dual or triple citizenship, write down one that corresponds to the passport that you are applying with.

#2. Last name
Write exactly as in your passport

#3. First and middle names
Write exactly as in your passport

#4. Date of birth
Write exactly as in your passport in the following format: dd/mm/yy.

#5. Sex
Indicate gender as per passport

#6. Purpose of visit.
Depending on the nature of your visit choose one of the following: tourism; business; work; study; private in accordance with the following criteria:
– Tourists are those visiting for leisure, cruises, tours
– Business visitors are those who travel for conferences, business/government meetings, signing official documents, visiting company branches
– Work visa are for those who are going to take employment in Russia. Applicants of this category must possess a number of documents, which are required for the application. You must contact Visa Center for this list.
– Study visa are for those who are going to take educational course in Russia. Applicants of this category must possess a number of documents, which are required for the application. You must contact Visa Center for this list.
– Private visitors are those who travel to visit relatives. Private visa applicants must possess an official private invitation letter issued by FMS (Ministry of Immigration).

#7. Category and type of visa.
You may leave this blank.

#8. Number of entries.
Depending on how many times you intend to enter Russia, select one of the boxes (single, double or multi)

#9. Date of entry in Russia.
Indicate the first possible day of entry into Russia. Please, note that it is not obligatory to enter Russia exactly on the indicated date. You may enter Russia later (but not earlier) as the visa is issued for the period of time between the date indicated in #9 and the date indicated in #10.

#10. Date of departure from Russia.
Indicate date of departure. Note that Russian visa will have its validity ending at this date and you are not allowed to stay in Russia after the date indicated in #10. Date of departure from Russia. Indicate the date in accordance with the following format: dd/mm/yy.

For tourist visas:
Departure date may not be any later than 30 calendar days after the date indicated in #9

For business, work, study visas:
Exit date must be as per the letter of invitation. If your letter of invitation is processed by Visa Center, please leave this field blank

#11. Passport No.
Indicate passport number, including all letters and digits.
Issued by
Indicate the name of the Authority that issued you the passport
Date of issue
Indicate the date of issue of your passport in accordance with the following format: dd/mm/yy.
Valid until
Indicate the date of expiry of your passport in accordance with the following format: dd/mm/yy.

#12. Type of passport.
Indicate the type of passport that you are applying with for Russian visa. In greatest majority of cases you should choose “tourist”. If you are applying with Travel Document, choose “other” and indicate “Travel Document” right after.

#13. Russian institution or organization to be visited?
If you apply with Visa Center, and Visa Center is providing you with visa support (invitation letters, vouchers, etc), then leave this space blank. Otherwise put here the name of the organization that has provided you with visa support. (If you are unsure, leave blank)

For tourist visa please indicate the name and reference number of the host tourist company. For business visa – name of the host organization and its city. For private visa – last, first and middle name as well as the home address of your host in Russia (in English).

#14. Itinerary
Indicate here the cities in Russia that you plan to visit during your trip

#15. Do you have medical insurance valid in Russia?
If you do not have one, leave the space blank and select “no” box. If you have the insurance then select “yes” box and provide the name of the insurance company and policy number. Insurance is recommended but not mandatory for USA & Canadian citizens.

#16. Who will pay for your trip to and stay in Russia?
Indicate who is paying for your trip.

#17. Marital status.
Select one of the boxes that corresponds to you current marital situation.

#18. Spouse’s full name.
Indicate your spouse full name. Indicate maiden name of the spouse (if applicable) in case when you are divorced or separated.

#19. Spouse’s date of birth.
Indicate your spouse’s date of birth in accordance with the following format: dd/mm/yy.

#20. Spouse’s place of birth.
Indicate your spouse’s place of birth (city name, country name).

#21. Your father’s full name.
Indicate your father’s full name.

#22. Your mother’s full name.
Indicate your mother’s full name.

#23. Have you ever been issued a Russian visa?
Indicate the year(s) and the place(s) of issue of your previous Russian visa(s).

#24. Has your passport ever been lost or stolen?
select one of the boxes that corresponds to your situation.

#25. List all countries you have visited in the last ten years and indicate the year of visit.
Make a list that looks like, Country name – Year of visit.

#26. List all countries which have ever issued you a passport.
Indicate what countries you have passports from.

#27. List your last two places of work, excluding the current one.
For 1 and 2.
Name.
Indicate the name of the company.
Address.
Indicate the address of the company.
Your position.
Indicate the position you occupied while in the company.
Phone number.
Indicate the phone number of the company.
Your chief’s surname.
Indicate the name of your supervisor at the company.
Dates of joining – dismissal.
Indicate month and year for the start and end of your employment with the company in accordance with the following format: mm/yy.#28. List all educational institutions you ever attended, except high schools.
For 1 and 2.
Name.
Indicate the name of the educational institution.
Course of study.
Indicate your major.
Address and phone number.
Indicate the address and phone number of the educational institution.
Dates of admission and graduation.
Indicate the month/year of admission and month/year of graduation in accordance with the following format: mm/yy.

#29. List all professional, civil and charity organizations which you are/were member of or cooperate/cooperated with.
List the names of organizations that you belong to (i.e. Rotary club, ASCE, UNISON, etc)

#30. Do you have any specialized skills, training or experience related to fire-arms and explosives or to nuclear matters, biological or chemical substance? If yes, please specify.
If you have the above mentioned skills/training list the details, otherwise indicate “N/A”

#31. Have you ever performed a military service? If yes, indicate the country, branch of service, rank, military occupation and dates of service.
If you served in the military, provide the details as requested, otherwise indicate “N/A”

#32. Have you ever been involved in the armed conflicts, either as a member of the military service or a victim? If yes, please specify.
Indicate the details of your involvement in the military conflicts, wars, etc., if applicable.

#33. Important! Each applicant must read and give answers to the following questions.
Have you ever been arrested or convicted for any offense?
Select “no” box if this does not apply to you. Otherwise, select “yes” box and provide the details as requested.

Have you ever been afflicted with a communicable disease of public health significance or a dangerous physical or mental disorder? Have you ever been a drug abuser or an addict?
Select the box that applicable to your case.

Have you ever been refused a Russian visa?
Select “no” box if this does not apply to you. Otherwise, select “yes” box and provide the details as requested.

Has your Russian visa ever been canceled?
Select “no” box if this does not apply to you. Otherwise, select “yes” box and provide the details as requested.

Have you ever tried to obtain or assisted others to obtain a Russian visa or enter Russia by providing misleading or false information?
Select the box that applicable to your case.

Have you ever overstayed your Russian visa or stayed unlawfully in Russia?
select “no” box if this does not apply to you. Otherwise, select “yes” box and provide the details as requested.

Have you ever been deported from Russia?
Select “no” box if this does not apply to you. Otherwise, select “yes” box and provide the details as requested.

#34. Name, address and phone number of a person or hotel in Russia that you plan to stay with.
Indicate the contact information of your place of residence in Russia. If you applied for your invitation/visa support with Visa Center you may leave this space blank.

#35. Has this application been completed personally by you? If no, indicate the person completing this information in item 36.
Select the box that applicable to your case.

#36. Application completed:
If you selected “no” box, indicate the following details about the person who has assisted you: last and first name, his/her’s contact address and relationship to you.

#37. Other names ever used.
Indicate any names that you have ever used. For example, maiden name.